Driving Offences

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many driving bans were served concurrently with prison sentences in each region of England and Wales in  (a) each of the last 10 years and  (b) 2008 to date.

Maria Eagle: Although the court proceedings data held by my Department provides information on the sentencing of individuals for individual offences, including whether they are disqualified from driving as a result of those offences, it does not hold information on whether each person is already banned from driving when sentence is passed.

Powers of Attorney

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received on the waiting period for the processing of an application for a lasting power of attorney; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Since the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 in October 2007 the Public Guardian is responsible for registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney. One of the key safeguards of the registration process is the requirement for a statutory six-week waiting period for objections against registration to be made.
	Representations were made to the Secretary of State for Justice by the President of Solicitors for the Elderly in June 2008, and by the President of the Law Society in July 2008, that the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) was failing to issue the required notice to start the waiting period in a timely manner.
	The OPG is now issuing the notice required to start the waiting period within its published target of 10 working days. Where there are problems with an application for Lasting Power of Attorney, applicants are similarly notified within 10 working days.
	The OPG has received representations generally about Lasting Powers of Attorney and will be looking whether the current registration processes are proportionate and effective during the review of the implementation of the MCA launched earlier this month.

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) asylum claimants and  (b) their dependants of each nationality have been granted leave to remain in the UK through (i) the 1998 backlog exercise, (ii) the 2003 family indefinite leave to remain exercise, (iii) the legacy exercise and (iv) discretionary leave to remain since 1997.

Phil Woolas: The information is as follows:
	(i) The following tables show the number of principal asylum applicants who have been granted leave to remain in the UK through the pre-1996 asylum application backlog exercise (referred to in the question as the 1998 backlog exercise) by nationality during 1999 and 2000. The backlog clearance exercise ran for these two years only.
	Information on dependants granted leave to remain in the UK through the backlog exercise is not available by nationality and can be obtained only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost. Total figures for principal applicants including dependants granted exceptional leave under the backlog exercise were 15,195 and 14,045 in 1999 and 2000 respectively.
	(ii) For information on the 2003 family indefinite leave to remain exercise, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Byrne) gave on 16 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1298W.
	UKBA is no longer reporting on the performance of the Family ILR Exercise. The small number of remaining cases are being processed with other legacy cases, not as a separate workstream, and will be reported on as part of normal business.
	(iii) Information on the legacy exercise by nationality is not available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	(iv) Discretionary leave to remain has only been granted since April 2003. For information on the numbers granted discretionary leave to remain from April 2003 to 2006, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Byrne) gave on 16 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1298W. 2007 figures on the discretionary leave to remain can be found in tables 4.1 and 4.2 of the annual Statistical Bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2007:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb1108.pdf
	Further National Statistics on asylum are available from the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.
	
		
			Decisions 
			  Cases considered under normal procedures 
			   Applications received( 4)  Total decisions  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave 
			  Nationality  Number  Number  Percentage( 5)  Number  Percentage( 5)  Number  Percentage( 5) 
			  
			  Europe
			 Albania 1,310 230 (100) 25 (12) * (0) 
			 Czech Republic 1,790 275 (100) * (0) — (0) 
			 FRY 11,465 7,750 (100) 6,290 (92) 85 (1) 
			 Poland 1,860 545 (100) * (0) — (0) 
			 Romania 1,985 440 (100) 5 (1) * (0) 
			 Russia 685 305 (100) * (2) 5 (6) 
			 Turkey 2,850 2,055 (100) 85 (22) 15 (3) 
			 Ukraine 775 110 (100) * (1) — (0) 
			 Other Former USSR 2,640 615 (100) 10 (2) 5 (1) 
			 Other Former Yugo. 2,715 305 (100) 50 (21) 5 (2) 
			 Other 200 595 (100) 15 (6) 5 (2) 
			 Total 28,280 13,230 (100) 6,480 (67) 120 (1) 
			  Americas
			 Colombia 1,000 395 (100) 5 (2) 5 (2) 
			 Ecuador 610 165 (100) — (0) — (0) 
			 Other 420 155 (100) * (3) 15 (18) 
			 Total 2,025 715 (100) 5 (2) 15 (4) 
			  Africa
			 Algeria 1,385 905 (100) 475 (71) 30 (5) 
			 Angola 545 405 (100) 20 (24) 40 (41) 
			 Dem. Rep. Congo 1,240 1,345 (100) 15 (15) 45 (40) 
			 Ethiopia 455 260 (100) 20 (31) 5 (12) 
			 Gambia 30 80 (100) * (6) — (0) 
			 Ghana 195 1,685 (100) — (0) 5 (3) 
			 Ivory Coast 190 265 (100) — (0) — (0) 
			 Kenya 485 790 (100) 15 (3) 5 (1) 
			 Nigeria 945 1,725 (100) — (0) 5 (1) 
			 Rwanda 820 295 (100) 20 (10) 60 (26) 
			 Sierra Leone 1,125 820 (100) 5 (2) 280 (69) 
			 Somalia 7,495 350 (100) 130 (42) 55 (18) 
			 Sudan 280 195 (100) 40 (43) 5 (3) 
			 Tanzania 80 170 (100) * (3) — (0) 
			 Uganda 420 255 (100) 5 (5) 15 (20) 
			 Zimbabwe 230 115 (100) — (0) — (0) 
			 Other 2,510 1,060 (100) 35 (5) 185 (27) 
			 Total 18,435 10,720 (100) 785 (18) 740 (17) 
			  Middle East
			 Iran 1,320 415 (100) 55 (37) 20 (13) 
			 Iraq 1,800 745 (100) 315 (43) 320 (43) 
			 Other 1,045 260 (100) 45 (27) 15 (9) 
			 Total 4,165 1,420 (100) 415 (39) 355 (34) 
			  Asia
			 Afghanistan 3,975 1,295 (100) 15 (1) 1,180 (92) 
			 Bangladesh 530 615 (100) * (0) 5 (2) 
			 China 2,625 470 (100) 5 (2) 5 (1) 
			 India 1,365 945 (100) * (0) 10 (1) 
			 Pakistan 2,615 1,250 (100) 25 (2) 15 (1) 
			 Sri Lanka 5,130 2,630 (100) 20 (1) 10 (0) 
			 Other 1,225 155 (100) * (3) 5 (4) 
			 Total 17,465 7,355 (100) 65 (1) 1,225 (21) 
			 
			 Nationality not known 785 285 (100) 65 (55) 15 (11) 
			 
			 Grand total 71,160 33,720 (100) 7,815 (37) 2,465 (12) 
		
	
	
		
			   Decisions 
			   Cases considered under normal procedures 
			   Refusals 
			   Total refused  Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration  Refused on safe third country grounds  Refused on non-compliance grounds 
			  Nationality  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage( 5)  Number  Percentage( 5)  Number  Percentage( 5) 
			  Europe 
			 Albania 175 (87) 80 (40) 80 (40) 15 (6) 
			 Czech Republic 275 (100) 230 (84) 10 (4) 30 (11) 
			 FRY 460 (7) 85 (1) 235 (3) 140 (2) 
			 Poland 520 (100) 475 (91) * (—) 40 (8) 
			 Romania 345 (99) 140 (41) 70 (20) 135 (39) 
			 Russia 55 (92) 35 (56) 15 (21) 10 (15) 
			 Turkey 290 (75) 135 (34) 145 (37) 10 (3) 
			 Ukraine 80 (99) 40 (48) 25 (33) 15 (17) 
			 Other Former USSR 465 (97) 380 (79) 40 (9) 45 (10) 
			 Other Former Yugo. 180 (78) 150 (64) 25 (12) 5 (2) 
			 Other 220 (92) 200 (84) 15 (5) 5 (3) 
			 Total 3,065 (32) 1,950 (20) 660 (7) 450 (5) 
			  Americas 
			 Colombia 155 (96) 135 (83) 15 (9) 5 (4) 
			 Ecuador 135 (100) 10 (7) 125 (93) — (—) 
			 Other 60 (80) 55 (72) 5 (4) 5 (4) 
			 Total 350 (94) 200 (53) 145 (38) 10 (2) 
			  Africa 
			 Algeria 160 (24) 75 (12) 60 (9) 25 (4) 
			 Angola 35 (35) * (1) 30 (31) 5 (3) 
			 Dem. Rep. Congo 50 (45) 15 (12) 30 (26) 5 (6) 
			 Ethiopia 35 (57) 5 (9) 25 (47) * (2) 
			 Gambia 15 (94) 15 (94) — (—) — (—) 
			 Ghana 130 (97) 115 (86) * (1) 15 (10) 
			 Ivory Coast 75 (100) 65 (89) 5 (5) 5 (5) 
			 Kenya 495 (96) 470 (91) 10 (2) 15 (3) 
			 Nigeria 780 (99) 655 (83) 20 (3) 105 (13) 
			 Rwanda 150 (65) 70 (31) 10 (4) 70 (29) 
			 Sierra Leone 120 (30) 40 (10) 15 (3) 65 (16) 
			 Somalia 120 (39) 5 (1) 75 (25) 40 (14) 
			 Sudan 50 (54) 30 (35) 15 (16) 5 (3) 
			 Tanzania 30 (97) 25 (80) 5 (13) * (3) 
			 Uganda 55 (75) 50 (68) * (1) 5 (5) 
			 Zimbabwe 105 (100) 105 (100) — (—) — (—) 
			 Other 465 (68) 320 (47) 55 (8) 90 (13) 
			 Total 2,875 (65) 2,075 (47) 360 (8) 445 (10) 
			  Middle East 
			 Iran 75 (50) 15 (10) 55 (36) 5 (4) 
			 Iraq 100 (14) 5 (1) 90 (12) 5 (1) 
			 Other 110 (64) 60 (35) 40 (25) 5 (4) 
			 Total 285 (27) 80 (8) 185 (18) 15 (2) 
			  Asia 
			 Afghanistan 90 (7) 20 (2) 60 (5) 5 (—) 
			 Bangladesh 375 (98) 315 (83) 50 (13) 10 (3) 
			 China 200 (97) 155 (75) 25 (13) 15 (8) 
			 India 750 (99) 655 (86) 60 (8) 35 (5) 
			 Pakistan 990 (96) 885 (86) 65 (6) 40 (4) 
			 Sri Lanka 1,945 (99) 1,700 (86) 205 (10) 40 (2) 
			 Other 70 (93) 35 (51) 20 (29) 10 (14) 
			 Total 4,415 (77) 3,775 (66) 480 (8) 160 (3) 
			  
			 Nationality not known 40 (34) 35 (29) — (—) 5 (5) 
			  
			 Grand total 11,025 (52) 8,110 (38) 1,830 (9) 1,085 (5) 
		
	
	
		
			   Decisions
			   Backlog clearance exercise
			   Granted asylum or exceptional leave under backlog criteria  Refused under backlog criteria
			  Nationality  Number( 6, 7)  Percentage( 5)  Number( 6, 8)  Percentage( 5)  Applications withdrawn  Applications outstanding at end of year  Nationality 
			  EuropeEurope 
			 Albania 30 (90) 5 (10) 5 n/a Albania 
			 Czech Republic * (100) — (—) 15 n/a Czech Republic 
			 FRY 875 (96) 40 (4) n/a n/a FRY 
			 Poland 20 (73) 5 (27) 40 n/a Poland 
			 Romania 45 (50) 45 (50) 10 n/a Romania 
			 Russia 190 (78) 50 (22) n/a n/a Russia 
			 Turkey 1,520 (91) 150 (9) 40 n/a Turkey 
			 Ukraine 25 (86) 5 (14) n/a n/a Ukraine 
			 Other Former USSR 120 (91) 10 (9) 75 n/a Other Former USSR 
			 Other Former Yugo. 60 (79) 15 (21) 30 n/a Other Former Yugo. 
			 Other 315 (88) 40 (12) 50 n/a Other 
			 Total 3,195 (90) 370 (10) 265 n/a Total 
			  AmericasAmericas 
			 Colombia 215 (92) 20 (8) 5 n/a Colombia 
			 Ecuador 25 (93) * (7) 5 n/a Ecuador 
			 Other 70 (84) 15 (16) 20 n/a Other 
			 Total 310 (90) 35 (10) 30 n/a Total 
			  AfricaAfrica 
			 Algeria 205 (88) 30 (12) 40 n/a Algeria 
			 Angola 260 (83) 55 (17) 15 n/a Angola 
			 Dem. Rep. Congo 1,155 (94) 75 (6) 40 n/a Dem. Rep. Congo 
			 Ethiopia 190 (95) 10 (5) * n/a Ethiopia 
			 Gambia 40 (64) 20 (36) 5 n/a Gambia 
			 Ghana 1,415 (91) 135 (9) 20 n/a Ghana 
			 Ivory Coast 155 (83) 30 (17) 10 n/a Ivory Coast 
			 Kenya 210 (78) 60 (22) 25 n/a Kenya 
			 Nigeria 765 (82) 175 (18) 45 n/a Nigeria 
			 Rwanda 55 (85) 10 (15) 10 n/a Rwanda 
			 Sierra Leone 400 (96) 15 (4) 10 n/a Sierra Leone 
			 Somalia 35 (83) 5 (17) 10 n/a Somalia 
			 Sudan 100 (92) 10 (8) 5 n/a Sudan 
			 Tanzania 110 (79) 30 (21) 5 n/a Tanzania 
			 Uganda 170 (95) 10 (5) 10 n/a Uganda 
			 Zimbabwe 10 (90) * (10) * n/a Zimbabwe 
			 Other 325 (87) 50 (13) 10 n/a Other 
			 Total 5,605 (89) 720 (11) 260 n/a Total 
			  Middle East  n/a  Middle East 
			 Iran 250 (94) 15 (6) 15 n/a Iran 
			 Iraq 5 (86) * (14) 10 n/a Iraq 
			 Other 85 (91) 10 (9) 20 n/a Other 
			 Total 340 (93) 25 (7) 40 n/a Total 
			  AsiaAsia 
			 Afghanistan 10 (100) — (—) 5 n/a Afghanistan 
			 Bangladesh 220 (94) 15 (6) 20 n/a Bangladesh 
			 China 245 (93) 20 (7) 5 n/a China 
			 India 170 (92) 15 (8) 35 n/a India 
			 Pakistan 215 (97) 5 (3) 40 n/a Pakistan 
			 Sri Lanka 620 (94) 35 (6) 20 n/a Sri Lanka 
			 Other 80 (96) 5 (4) 10 n/a Other 
			 Total 1,555 (94) 95 (6) 130 n/a Total 
			 
			 Nationality not known 135 (81) 30 (19) 5 n/a Nationality not known 
			 
			 Grand total 11,140 (90) 1,275 (10) 730 119,700 Grand total 
			 (1 )Provisional figures (other than percentages) rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2. (2) Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in 1999. (3) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (4) 1999 figures may exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices. (5) Percentages for cases considered under normal procedures and those within the backlog clearance exercise are calculated separately. (6) Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum application backlog. (7) Includes cases where asylum or exceptional leave has been granted under the backlog criteria. (8) Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Applications received for asylum in the united kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decsisions( 1, 2, )( 3)  by nationality 2000( 10) 
			Decisions 
			  Cases considered under normal procedures( 5) 
			   Applications received( 4)  Total decisions  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave 
			  Nationality  Number  Number  Percentage( 6)  Number  Percentage( 6)  Number  Percentage( 6) 
			  Europe
			 Albania 1,490 1,940 (100) 25 (1) 35 (2) 
			 Czech Republic 1,200 1,800 (100) 10 (1) 10 (1) 
			 FRY 6,070 15,125 (100) 275 (2) 815 (5) 
			 Poland 1,015 1,820 (100) 20 (1) 20 (1) 
			 Romania 2,160 2,800 (100) 15 (1) 20 (1) 
			 Russia 1,000 1,195 (100) 25 (3) 45 (5) 
			 Turkey 3,990 3,695 (100) 180 (7) 135 (6) 
			 Ukraine 770 1,270 (100) 15 (1) 35 (3) 
			 Other Former USSR 2,505 3,795 (100) 65 (2) 75 (2) 
			 Other Former Yugo. 2,265 1,550 (100) 110 (8) 50 (3) 
			 Other 415 920 (100) 50 (7) 30 (4) 
			 Total 22,880 35,915 (100) 790 (2) 1,265 (4) 
			  Americas
			 Colombia 505 2,090 (100) 60 (3) 60 (3) 
			 Ecuador 445 800 (100) 25 (3) 20 (3) 
			 Other 465 705 (100) 35 (6) 50 (9) 
			 Total 1,420 3,595 (100) 120 (4) 125 (4) 
			  Africa
			 Algeria 1,635 1,935 (100) 65 (4) 45 (3) 
			 Angola 800 1,025 (100) 70 (10) 200 (29) 
			 Dem. Rep. Congo 1,030 2,005 (100) 145 (11) 180 (14) 
			 Ethiopia 415 895 (100) 40 (9) 80 (17) 
			 Gambia 50 75 (100) 5 (10) 10 (20) 
			 Ghana 285 420 (100) 40 (14) 35 (11) 
			 Ivory Coast 445 365 (100) 15 (4) 15 (4) 
			 Kenya 455 1,620 (100) 50 (6) 90 (10) 
			 Nigeria 835 1,215 (100) 20 (2) 90 (10) 
			 Rwanda 760 720 (100) 85 (12) 165 (24) 
			 Sierra Leone 1,330 1,560 (100) 95 (8) 575 (50) 
			 Somalia 5,020 11,325 (100) 5,310 (47) 3,575 (32) 
			 Sudan 415 895 (100) 110 (19) 70 (12) 
			 Tanzania 60 160 (100) 5 (5) 10 (13) 
			 Uganda 740 740 (100) 20 (4) 30 (6) 
			 Zimbabwe 1,010 595 (100) 20 (3) 10 (2) 
			 Other 2,635 3,055 (100) 245 (10) 385 (15) 
			 Total 17,920 28,610 (100) 6,340 (27) 5,560 (23) 
			  Middle East
			 Iran 5,610 3,690 (100) 390 (11) 255 (7) 
			 Iraq 7,475 5,530 (100) 845 (15) 2,455 (45) 
			 Other 1,330 1,470 (100) 115 (10) 100 (8) 
			 Total 14,415 10,690 (100) 1,350 (13) 2,810 (28) 
			  Asia
			 Afghanistan 5,555 2,590 (100) 375 (15) 695 (27) 
			 Bangladesh 795 1,250 (100) 20 (2) 35 (4) 
			 China 4,000 5,860 (100) 40 (1) 130 (2) 
			 India 2,120 2,435 (100) 40 (2) 45 (2) 
			 Pakistan 3,165 4,715 (100) 125 (3) 120 (3) 
			 Sri Lanka 6,395 9,050 (100) 900 (11) 285 (4) 
			 Other 1,205 1,330 (100) 50 (4) 65 (6) 
			 Total 23,230 27,230 (100) 1,545 (6) 1,375 (6) 
			 
			 Nationality not known 450 3,165 (100) 225 (8) 355 (12) 
			 
			 Grand total 80,315 109,205 (100) 10,375 (11) 11,495 (12) 
		
	
	
		
			   Decisions 
			   Cases considered under normal procedures( 5) 
			   Refusals 
			   Total refused  Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration  Refused on safe third country grounds  Refused on non-compliance grounds 
			  Nationality  Number  Percentage( 6)  Number  Percentage( 6)  Number  Percentage( 6)  Number  Percentage( 6) 
			  Europe 
			 Albania 1,875 (97) 1,480 (76) 50 (3) 345 (18) 
			 Czech Republic 1,775 (99) 1,565 (87) 5 (—) 205 (12) 
			 FRY 13,830 (93) 10,860 (73) 95 (1) 2,880 (19) 
			 Poland 1,765 (98) 1,445 (80) * (—) 320 (18) 
			 Romania 2,695 (99) 1,590 (58) 70 (3) 1,030 (38) 
			 Russia 900 (92) 530 (54) 10 (1) 360 (37) 
			 Turkey 2,090 (87) 1,095 (46) 145 (6) 850 (35) 
			 Ukraine 1,045 (96) 760 (70) 20 (2) 265 (24) 
			 Other Former USSR 3,285 (96) 2,250 (66) 20 (1) 1,015 (30) 
			 Other Former Yugo. 1,280 (89) 1,110 (77) * (—) 170 (12) 
			 Other 605 (88) 450 (65) 10 (1) 150 (22) 
			 Total 31,145 (94) 23,125 (70) 430 (1) 7,590 (23) 
			  Americas 
			 Colombia 1,775 (94) 1,600 (84) 30 (2) 145 (8) 
			 Ecuador 650 (94) 490 (70) 45 (6) 120 (17) 
			 Other 470 (85) 330 (60) * (—) 135 (25) 
			 Total 2,900 (92) 2,420 (77) 75 (2) 405 (13) 
			  Africa 
			 Algeria 1,330 (93) 760 (53) 20 (1) 550 (38) 
			 Angola 425 (61) 205 (30) 10 (1) 210 (31) 
			 Dem. Rep. Congo 990 (75) 610 (46) 30 (2) 350 (27) 
			 Ethiopia 355 (75) 220 (47) 5 (1) 130 (27) 
			 Gambia 30 (71) 15 (39) — (—) 15 (32) 
			 Ghana 225 (75) 155 (52) — (—) 70 (23) 
			 Ivory Coast 265 (91) 90 (31) 25 (8) 150 (51) 
			 Kenya 785 (85) 535 (58) 10 (1) 240 (26) 
			 Nigeria 770 (87) 415 (47) 10 (1) 345 (39) 
			 Rwanda 440 (64) 150 (22) 5 (1) 285 (41) 
			 Sierra Leone 480 (42) 145 (13) 10 (1) 320 (28) 
			 Somalia 2,365 (21) 695 (6) 30 (—) 1,645 (15) 
			 Sudan 395 (68) 270 (47) 20 (3) 110 (19) 
			 Tanzania 60 (82) 40 (54) * (3) 20 (25) 
			 Uganda 480 (90) 250 (46) * (—) 230 (43) 
			 Zimbabwe 525 (94) 435 (79) — (—) 90 (16) 
			 Other 1,860 (75) 950 (38) 30 (1) 880 (35) 
			 Total 11,780 (50) 5,945 (25) 200 (1) 5,635 (24) 
			  Middle East 
			 Iran 2,815 (81) 1,595 (46) 35 (1) 1,185 (34) 
			 Iraq 2,220 (40) 825 (15) 70 (1) 1,320 (24) 
			 Other 945 (82) 595 (51) 30 (3) 320 (28) 
			 Total 5,975 (59) 3,020 (30) 135 (1) 2,825 (28) 
			  Asia 
			 Afghanistan 1,515 (59) 460 (18) 35 (1) 1,020 (39) 
			 Bangladesh 870 (94) 560 (60) 50 (5) 260 (28) 
			 China 5,480 (97) 3,665 (65) 45 (1) 1,770 (31) 
			 India 2,125 (96) 1,185 (53) 40 (2) 905 (41) 
			 Pakistan 3,720 (94) 2,445 (62) 40 (1) 1,235 (31) 
			 Sri Lanka 6,875 (85) 5,115 (63) 170 (2) 1,590 (20) 
			 Other 1,015 (90) 480 (43) 5 (—) 530 (47) 
			 Total 21,600 (88) 13,910 (57) 380 (2) 7,310 (30) 
			  
			 Nationality not known 2,280 (80) 1,730 (60) 20 (1) 530 (19) 
			  
			 Grand total 75,680 (78) 50,145 (51) 1,240 (1) 24,290 (25) 
		
	
	
		
			   Decisions
			   Backlog clearance exercise
			   Granted asylum or exceptional leave under backlog criteria  Refused under backlog criteria
			  Nationality  Number( 7, 8)  Percentage( 6)  Number( 7, )( 9)  Percentage( 6)  Applications withdrawn  Applications outstanding at end of year  Nationality 
			  EuropeEurope 
			 Albania 5 (80) * (20) 60 n/a Albania 
			 Czech Republic * (100) — (—) 80 n/a Czech Republic 
			 FRY 165 (82) 35 (18) 240 n/a FRY 
			 Poland 10 (50) 10 (50) 95 n/a Poland 
			 Romania 45 (63) 30 (37) 65 n/a Romania 
			 Russia 185 (84) 35 (16) 35 n/a Russia 
			 Turkey 1,215 (94) 80 (6) 40 n/a Turkey 
			 Ukraine 155 (88) 20 (12) 55 n/a Ukraine 
			 Other Former USSR 320 (86) 50 (14) 155 n/a Other Former USSR 
			 Other Former Yugo. 80 (75) 30 (25) 25 n/a Other Former Yugo. 
			 Other 210 (89) 25 (11) 35 n/a Other 
			 Total 2,395 (88) 320 (12) 885 n/a Total 
			  AmericasAmericas 
			 Colombia 180 (95) 10 (5) 15 n/a Colombia 
			 Ecuador 100 (96) 5 (4) 10 n/a Ecuador 
			 Other 135 (89) 15 (11) 45 n/a Other 
			 Total 420 (93) 30 (7) 70 n/a Total 
			  AfricaAfrica 
			 Algeria 415 (83) 85 (17) 45 n/a Algeria 
			 Angola 240 (72) 90 (28) 10 n/a Angola 
			 Dem. Rep. Congo 610 (89) 75 (11) 20 n/a Dem. Rep. Congo 
			 Ethiopia 390 (93) 30 (7) 15 n/a Ethiopia 
			 Gambia 30 (88) 5 (12) 5 n/a Gambia 
			 Ghana 90 (72) 35 (28) 15 n/a Ghana 
			 Ivory Coast 70 (95) 5 (5) 5 n/a Ivory Coast 
			 Kenya 625 (90) 70 (10) 30 n/a Kenya 
			 Nigeria 290 (86) 45 (14) 40 n/a Nigeria 
			 Rwanda 30 (94) * (6) 5 n/a Rwanda 
			 Sierra Leone 365 (90) 40 (10) 25 n/a Sierra Leone 
			 Somalia 55 (78) 15 (22) 50 n/a Somalia 
			 Sudan 300 (94) 20 (6) 10 n/a Sudan 
			 Tanzania 80 (95) 5 (5) 5 n/a Tanzania 
			 Uganda 195 (94) 10 (6) 15 n/a Uganda 
			 Zimbabwe 35 (88) 5 (12) 10 n/a Zimbabwe 
			 Other 520 (92) 50 (8) 50 n/a Other 
			 Total 4,345 (88) 585 (12) 345 n/a Total 
			  Middle East   n/a  Middle East 
			 Iran 210 (89) 25 (11) 40 n/a Iran 
			 Iraq 10 (89) * (11) 20 n/a Iraq 
			 Other 295 (96) 10 (4) 40 n/a Other 
			 Total 515 (93) 40 (7) 100 n/a Total 
			  AsiaAsia 
			 Afghanistan 10 (100) — (—) 25 n/a Afghanistan 
			 Bangladesh 290 (90) 35 (10) 15 n/a Bangladesh 
			 China 165 (79) 45 (21) 30 n/a China 
			 India 175 (78) 50 (22) 45 n/a India 
			 Pakistan 685 (91) 65 (9) 95 n/a Pakistan 
			 Sri Lanka 895 (90) 100 (10) 45 n/a Sri Lanka 
			 Other 170 (84) 30 (16) 35 n/a Other 
			 Total 2,385 (88) 320 (12) 290 n/a Total 
			 
			 Nationality not known 275 (89) 35 (11) 30 n/a Nationality not known 
			 
			 Grand total 10,325 (89) 1,335 (11) 1,720 89,100 Grand total 
			 (1) Provisional figures (other than percentages) rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2. (2) Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in 2000. (3) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (4) May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January and March 2000. (5) Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria. (6) Percentages for cases considered under normal procedures and those within the backlog clearance exercise are calculated separately. (7) Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum application backlog. (8) Includes cases where asylum or exceptional leave has been granted under the backlog criteria. (9) Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds. (10) Provisional.

Identity and Passport Service

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines have been issued to the Identity and Passport Service on the secure delivery of documentation to passport holders.

Meg Hillier: Passports are delivered by Secure Mail Services (SMS) courier. The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has provided SMS with instructions as to whether a signature is required or not, dependent upon known losses for the postcode, and the premises being delivered to. This flexible approach means that the integrity of the delivery process, and the passport, is maintained while minimising the need for customers to be at home to receive their passport. Around 3 per cent. of courier deliveries require a signature on delivery.
	Disguised mail is used to deliver passports to customers living in remote areas where there is perceived to be very little risk to mail. Recorded Delivery is used and around .4 per cent. of passports are delivered in this way.
	Supporting documentation is returned by Second Class post unless customers elect to pay the £3 fee for Secure Delivery of their documents. Documents returned by Secure Delivery are treated identically to passport deliveries.
	All items carried by SMS are fully auditable throughout their journey from despatch to delivery, enabling full investigation of claims of non-receipt.

Railways: Lancashire

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to promoting the construction of the Todmorden Curve to cut train journey times between Manchester and Burnley.

Paul Clark: My noble Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, Lord Adonis met my hon. Friend, the Member for Burnley and Padiham (Kitty Ussher) on 9 October to discuss the proposal for a direct service between Burnley and Manchester. It would be for Lancashire county council, as transport authority, to consider the best way of achieving this, in discussion with Network Rail and Northern Rail.

Roads: Noise

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of people adversely affected by noise pollution from the strategic road network in the last eight years.

Paul Clark: The Highways Agency has not detailed undertaken work to estimate the likely number of people adversely affected by noise arising from the use of the strategic road network over the last eight years.
	The Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended) include provisions to improve the information available to the public about noise and its effect. The regulations require the preparation of strategic noise maps for urban areas, major roads, major railways and major airports. Following the completion of mapping, an action plan is to be drawn up to manage noise and reduce it where possible.
	His action plan will include an estimate of numbers of people affected by traffic noise from major roads, which includes a majority of the strategic road network.
	Mapping and action plans are to be prepared on a five year cycle. All mapping for this current cycle has been completed and is
	available to view on the internet at
	www.defra.gov.uk/noisemapping.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs plan to prepare and consult on drafting action plans later this year.